Introducing the programme
Backing small, socially driven housing pioneers to deliver innovative affordable homes in England
Built with Social Purpose is a programme that delivers affordable homes in England. by backing small, socially driven developers.
Funded and supported by the Nationwide Foundation, the programme empowers mission-led developers who deeply understand their local communities to unlock complex sites, pilot new construction methods, and demonstrate what’s possible when delivery is led by purpose rather than profit.
Our goals
The programme empowers mission-led developers with deep local knowledge to:
Unlock complex and overlooked sites
Pilot new forms of construction methods
Deliver community-owned developments
Demonstrate practical partnership delivery models
Our partners
Housing pioneers
The programme brings together seven forward-thinking grantees to deliver over 150 affordable homes (instead of affordable including social rent) for local people by June 2028. Together, we will overcome real-world barriers – from land access and planning to financing and organisational capacity.
We will identify practical ways to diversify housebuilding in England that complement the efforts of larger scale housebuilders.
We will show how to improve alignment between policy, planning and delivery, to make it easier for SMEs to develop homes for local people.
We will build evidence showing how sustainable, community-owned development can be replicated and scaled.
We will share insights that influence future housing policy, practice and investment.
Cornerstone Place
Where: 150 genuinely affordable homes across England
Building: 94 homes
A social‑purpose delivery organisation that works with councils and local partners to unlock small sites for 100% social rented homes at 0% development profit.
Habitat for Humanity and
For Tyldesley CIC
Where: Wigan
Building: 2 homes + community gym
A hyperlocal urban regeneration scheme converting a commercial building into homes for local low-income residents.
Hastings Commons
Neighbourhood Ventures
Where: Hastings
Building: 12 homes + community and work spaces
Regeneration of unused buildings on the local high street to provide homes at social rent for people in housing need in partnership with the council and Homes England.
London Community Land Trust
Where: South East London
Building: 7 homes
A community-led home ownership model delivering permanently affordable homes at prices linked to average local incomes, enabling local key workers to stay rooted in their communities.
Nudge Community Builders
Where: Plymouth
Building: 17 homes
A conversion of derelict buildings into homes rented at below‑market and sub‑Local Housing Allowance rates for young people leaving care.
WeCanMake
Where: South Bristol
Building: 24 social rent homes + 3 community spaces
Scale-up of a community-led development of carbon-neutral, affordable homes on small, underused sites in partnership with the local authority.
Yor Space
Where: York
Building: 6 homes
Expansion of an affordable home‑ownership project delivering apartments sold at 70% of market prices, developed through a mutual home ownership mortgage model.
Together, we will deliver…
- Genuinely affordable and quality homes for local people, at pace.
- Quality development on small, complex, hard-to-unlock sites.
- Evidence and knowledge on overcoming delivery barriers across land, planning, finance and organisational capacity.
- Real-world insights that influence future housing policy, practice and investment.
- Replicable and scalable local delivery models for the long term.
